1/3/07 Minutes

Council of Albany Neighborhood Associations

Meeting Minutes January 3, 2007

Albany Public Library

1) Introductions

2) Minutes:

Minutes of the December CANA meeting were approved.

3) Guest Speakers:

Libraries for the Future � Branch Plan

Rich Peckham, Collins & Scoville Architects

On February 6, voters will be asked to approve borrowing $29 million to completely overhaul Albany �s neighborhood branch library system. The total for construction is projected to be $24.5 million and $29.1 million when all fees and costs are included. The tax impact will be $.47 per $1,000 of assessed value. The owner of a $100,000 home would pay an additional $47 in taxes per year.

All libraries will have three distinctly designated spaces; one for children, one for young adults; and one for general collections. Each will have meeting spaces with direct access and exit to the outside of the library buildings so those spaces can be used after the libraries are closed.

New

Scotland

Corridor: 8,370 square feet; new building next to firehouse on New Scotland Avenue ; $4 million

Newly constructed facility will include significant green space, street parking only for visitors, 2 floors, meeting space with after-hours access, and parking lot for staff

Arbor Hill/West Hill: 11,860 square feet; new building at Henry Johnson Boulevard and First Street $5.7 million

This new facility will be the largest of the branches because it will serve two neighborhoods. It will have a parking lot but no exit onto Henry Johnson Boulevard , green space and two floors.

Delaware Avenue Corridor: 9,565 square feet; renovation of 331 Delaware Avenue ; $4.7 million

The former Chicorelli Funeral home will be converted into the Delaware library branch. Green space will be created. Staff offices will be located on the second floor.

Pine Hills : 9,675 square feet; renovation of second floor of current branch to bring total square feet to 19,105); $4.8 million

The Pine Hills branch is the most used of all neighborhood libraries. It would be expanded for use of the second floor of the building and better entrances will be designed.

Howe � South End: 11,605 square feet; renovation of current branch with new addition; $5.2 million

This facility was built in 1927 and is the only branch that was designed as a library. It needs complete renovation (heating and cooling, roof, etc.), better access for the disabled, parking.

The following questions and issues were addressed:

All facilities are on the CDTA bus routes and will accommodate bike riders and walkers.

Renovated facilities should be complete by June 2008; new facilities by January 2009.

The number of parking spaces at the facilities is well below the number permitted.

Libraries will have sustainable designs and be environmentally friendly. The issue of crime prevention designs will be addressed when the branch plan is passed.

Bonds for $29.1 million will sold through the Dormitory Authority.

Operating hours will be expanded in all branches.

Plans for Howe will need to be approved by Historic Preservation.

Albany Public Schools Facilities Improvement Plan

Rich Peckham, Collins & Scoville Architects

Work plans for three district schools included in the Albany City School District facilities improvement project-- Arbor Hill Elementary, TOAST, and Giffen�have not been finalized. A new form of state building aid known as EXCEL (Expanding Children�s Education and Learning) presents a unique opportunity to invest in three buildings is available. To access the EXCEL aid and traditional state building aid, the district will seek voter approval on February 6 to spend $19 million more than has already been authorized for the exiting facilities plan. This $19 million will come at no additional cost to city taxpayers.

The district is eligible to receive $7.8 million in EXCEL aid. There is $13 million remaining from the existing facilities project and traditional state aid will cover an additional $11.2 million.

Each of the three buildings is outdated and Arbor Hill is deteriorating. Improvements will be made to the climate control systems, facades, electrical systems, and upgrades to accommodate modern technology. Each will be painted.

To date the district has successfully opened nine schools that were either newly constructed or substantially renovated and work on two more schools is underway. Ribbon cuttings and tours of Pine Hills Elementary and Delaware Community Schools are scheduled for the second week of January.

4) Committee Reports

Executive Nominating Committee: A motion was carried without opposition to elect the following CANA officers.

OFFICE	NAME	ASSOCIATION
Chair	Howard Stoller	Melrose NA
Vice Chair	Holly Katz	Mansion NA
Treasurer	Stephen Winters	Second Ave NA
At Large	Mary Connair	Delaware Area NA
At Large	Andrew Harvey	South Park NA
At Large	Patricia Maxon	Upper Washington NA
At Large	John Paneto	Shaker/Bishop�s Gate NA
At Large	Harold Rubin, Past chair	Center Square NA
At Large	Marggie Skinner	Pine Hills NA

Cable: CANA was updated on the work and concerns of the Common Council Ad Hoc Committee for Cable Access by 8^th Ward Councilman John Rosenzweig. A resolution supporting public access television is presently pending and support of CANA and each individual neighborhood association is requested. The resolution urges the City and prospective cable television franchisee to enter into a franchise agreement with establishes a PEG access broadcast facility or facilities which are easily assessable for government, education purposes. It requests that the prospective cable television franchisee provide start up financial assistance in equipping broadcast facilities and provide ongoing support. A draft resolution was distributed and can be returned to Councilman Rosenzweig at 19 Mohawk Place , Albany , NY 12208 .

Codes: The Committee met with John Egan in December regarding the State Office Campus Redevelopment and discussed code previsions related to the preservation of housing and neighborhoods in the Campus area.

5) New Business and Announcements

� CANA will host a �get acquainted gathering� on February 7, 2007 , at 6 PM at the offices of the National Association of Social Workers (across the street from the Library for new CANA members to meet the Executive Committee and other neighborhood association officers.

� Correspondence from AFD Fire Investigator Joe Isgro, Jr., AFD�s liaison in charge of neighborhood associations was noted.

� It was requested that the chairman arrange to have a presentation about public transportation at an upcoming meeting

6) Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 8:50 PM

Submitted by

Deanna Colfels

CANA

January 3, 2007

Meeting Attendees

NAME	ASSOCIATION	ADDRESS
Lynne Jackson	Albany Bicycle Coalition	223 So Swan St
Daniel VanRiper	Lincoln Park NA	dwvr@mac.com
Lt Ronald Matos	APD	rmatos@albany-ny.org
Joe Cunniff	Upper Washington Ave NA	jcunniff@nycap.rr.com
Gene Solan	Pine Hills	126 So. Allen St
Harold Rubin	Center Square	156 Chestnut St
Donald Wardle	United Tenants	125 Dove St
Richard Conti	Common Council Ward 6	Rc6thward@aol.com
Pat Maxon	UPANA	34 Victor St
John Rosenzweig	Common Council Ward 8	Rosenzweig8@nycap.rr.com
Tom Gebhardt	University at Albany	tgebhardt@uamail.albany.edu
Howard Stoller	CANA	Hstoller@aol.com
Holly Katz	Mansion	harriskatx@mac.com
Helen Klaysen	West End	817 Livingston Ave
Lisa Ternullo	Whitehall Dana
Mary Connail	Delaware Area NA	mconnair@yahoo.com
PO Matthew Montesano	APD	126 Arch St
Thomas Preston	Justus4us	Justus4us@juno.com
Blake Pavlik	Mansion Hill	69 Trinity Place # 401
Clifton M. Dixon	Justus4us	Justus4us@jjuno.com
Theresa Grafflin		tgrafflin@acoi.com
John Paneto	Shaker Park	11 Rosemary Drive Ext.
Brian Levine	Hudson Park	92 Willett St
Don O�Dell	Albany BicyclingCoalition	97 Manning Boulevard
Susan Holland	Beverwyck NA/Historic Albany Foundation	sholland@historic-albany.org
Shawn Hamlin
Michael Carrese	Albany Public Library	carrese@nycap.rr.com
Mary Beth Fowler	CSA/TOAST Elementary School	mb@fowlerhome.com
Susan Pedo	TOASTPTA	pppr@nycap.rr.com
Ken T. Cioffi	Albany City School District	Academy Park
Terrance White	Albany City School District	Academy Park
Stephen Winters	Second Avenue	227 Second Avenue
Hillary Tommaney	Historic Pastures Community Assoc.	50 Webster St
Colin McKnight	Mansion	colinnalbany@yahoo.com
Dominick Colsalaro	Common Council Ward 1	35 Clare Avenue